The Ottawa free trader., 1887-07-23
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.
EXPLANATION NOTES BY REV. r.
S. M'ARThUR, o. o.

Golden Text, Matt. cNi, IL.
We here pass from the ministry of John to
that of Jesus. The transition hour is the bap-
tism of the Lord 10y John; that was the most
important act in the harbingers mission.
The king was thus maugurated, and the
work of the forerunner was nearing its end.
The scene is profoundly instructive, The sim
less Cne submits to the symbolical act as il
he were simmer.
THE LESSON.
V. 13. Then Cometh. We cannot he quite
certain how long John the Baptist had been
preaching up to this period. Perhaps, taking
into account the comparative age of the Bap-
tist, we may suppose that the baptism Of
Christ took place six months after John be-
gan his ministry. Tradition, which has Sc
lected the spot, has also named the winter as
the time of the baptism. Jesus came from
Nazareth of Gallee. Mark l. o names the
town. We have already seen that this town
was about seventy miles north of Jerusalem,
and perhaps about the same distance from
the place of baptism. That spot would seem
w bt lllt SilN' uS Nutlt, III NtlStS uNt anu
six, multitudes came to John for baptism.
Probably this was the place already signalized
in the history OF redemption. Here the
lsraelites under Joshua crossed the river;
here the waters showed the power of God
when they were miraculously opened by
Elijah and Elisha. No wonder that multitudes
still come, rs many travellers inform us, and
plunge into the waters at this sacred spot.
V. II. Johns lesitancy. knew some
thing of Christ's miraculous birth, blameless
life and divine character. No wonder that
he shrank from performing this service.
More fitting it seemed that Jesus should bap-
tie him He felt unworthy to unloose his
Lords sandals, far less TO baptize him. This
hesitancy Is i'll perfect harmony With other
examples of Johns marked humility. The
imperfect tense here employed shows that it
was not II momentary act when he forbade
him. The word means that he tried to hin
der him. As Afford suggests, the word inn
plies active and earnest preventing with ges
lures of hand and tones of the voice When
Jesus spoke the words which removed Johns
doubt he Immediately obcyed We have
three accounts of the baptism, but Matthew
alone tells us of Johns hesitancy to perform
him as the Messiah, but he wanted and he
now received perfect assurance regarding his
divine amounting. Why should Christ the
sinless one, submit to the baptism of repent
ancei The answer is not far To seek. He
was made sin for us Being in the likeness of
sinful Hesh, it was fitting that he should sub
NIT to the rite intended for sinners In this
spirit he performed many other acts. such as
keeping the Passover, an observance belong
ing especially to sinners. His baptism thus
identified the Lord with those whom he came
to redeem
Y. II. Our Lords significant answer re-
moved Johns hesitancy. The reply also
shows ChriSt's design in submitting to the
ordinance. Had Christ left this act unper-
formed, something would have been wanting
in that perfect Righteousness which he came
to manifest. He came in our nature not only
to die the death of atonement but TO live a
life of perfect obedience. Baptism is an act
of obedience. Standing in our place it was
fitting that Jesus should submit to this o8li-
nance. What Christ sanctioned now by his
own example he afterward commanded
making it binding upon all his true disciples
The baptism also was an inauguration of
Christ's public and official life The "now"
suggests that the relation Of subjection was
real, but was only temporary and would soon
give place to n truer relationship. Christ
recognizes some ground for Johns doubt, but
John was to acquiesce for good, though TEN
porary reasons. The act is that Of Jesus as
well as that of John.
Y. II. Went Up Straightway Out OF the
Water.-After the act was performed the
hon pnanal thn clpnIc a..
and the spirit as a dove descended.
As n Dove.-This may be understood of the
shape which was assumed, or Of the manner
of descent, SO far AS these words are con-
cerned; but adding what Luke has said luke
iii, 24D, it is more probable that the reference
is rather TO the form which the spirit chose to
assume. To limit this expression to the man
ner of the descent is to do violence TO the nat
ural meaning Of the expression. Nothing
could DE more appropriate 10 the character,
life and work Of Jesus than this dove like
form. John tells Us lJohn i, 32D that "it
abode ON him. /: was a permanent posses.
SION thus he received the spirit without
measure; thus he was formally auDiuted for
his great work; thus he officially entered
upon 1t. Then John and others knew, by
testimony from heaven, that he was the Mes
siah.
'. II. 4 Voice from Heaven Tho voice
Of the e'ernal God was now heard. This
voice would confirm John most fully and
better prepare him Tor hl, further relations
to Jesus. 1t is possible that the voice was
heard only by hun and by Christ himself
The term Son was applied to the Messiah III
Psalms ii, :, ~ On two other occasions the
voice Of the Father was hcard-at the trans.
GguratiOn and shortly before the crucifixion.
\ comparison Of the records Of these three
events by all the cvaDgellsts will show that
on every occasion Christ was engaged in
prayer The three occasions abound in sug-
gestive lessons.
My Son, Ny Beloved is sort of
proper name; it is n distinctive title The
remaining words are from the Messianic pro-
phecy as found in Isaiah xiii |. This was a
as never before up to this hour his great mis-
sion was opening to his gaze. All the per
sons of the blessed Trinity were audibly or
visibly present; the Father 10y an audible
voice, the Son in human form, and the Spirit
a n dove. The ordinance thus hOnOre1 by
the triunc God should be hOnored 10y all true
believers.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
l. 1t becomes Us to follow Christs example
and t. obey all Christ commands We may
not understand the full significance Of some
,I,,, u,y- NOR. than al I,It, ltf II l.